Food dispensing jar

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a container for dispensing a viscous food product such as peanut butter. The container has a spiral groove in which a bottom fits into and can spiral upwards to dispense the product from the top of the container.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a dispensing jar. In particular, the present invention relates to a food dispensing jar especially suited for thick or viscous food products.

2. Description of Related Art

The dispensing of food products that have a viscous nature such as peanut butter, mayonnaise, thick sauces, jams, jellies and the like is difficult from the current standard straight sided containers. The typical peanut butter jar for example is a cylindrical straight sided container or plastic or glass which has a twist off lid. The jar is exceedingly difficult to get product out of as the volume of product decreases. Use of a spoon or knife is often difficult if not dangerous as removal tools as the last ounces of food are retrieved.

The concept of using a push up system for food has seen limited application. One such application is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 8,079,499 to Juteau issued Dec. 20, 2011. In this invention, a threaded center post is utilized and the bottom is pushed up the rotating around the center post. The user then can get product out of the top portion of the jar. This has several use problems in that the center post gets in the way of using a tool since the bottom is pushed up not to dispense but rather to make it easier to remove with a tool such as a knife or spoon.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery that a rotatable base fit inside a threaded container can be utilized to overcome the problems and limitations of the prior art.

Accordingly, in one embodiment the present invention relates to a container for a food product that is viscous comprising:

a) a container having a cylindrical inside wall having a bottom of the inside wall defining an open bottom and a top of the inside wall defining an open top, the inside wall having a threaded surface extending continuously from the bottom of the wall to the top of the wall;

b) a rotatable circular base having a diameter which fits and is retained inside the container by a peripheral edge of the base adapted to engage the threaded surface, the base adapted and positioned to rotate by hand from the open bottom to the open top.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of the container of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the container of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cylinder of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the base of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a top of the present invention with screw threads.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view showing a different design of hand grip and a lower sealing lip.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a clean container with peanut butter inside.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of the principles and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detailed description defines the meaning of the terms used herein and specifically describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the art to practice the invention.

DEFINITIONS

The terms “about” and “essentially” mean ±10 percent.

The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as more than one.

The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or as more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

The term “comprising” is not intended to limit inventions to only claiming the present invention with such comprising language. Any invention using the term comprising could be separated into one or more claims using “consisting” or “consisting of” claim language and is so intended.

Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments”, and “an embodiment” or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.

The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” means any of the following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C”. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.

The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of illustrating certain convenient embodiments of the present invention, and are not to be considered as limitation thereto. Term “means” preceding a present participle of an operation indicates a desired function for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function and that one skilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein and use of the term “means” is not intended to be limiting.

As used herein the term food product that is “viscous” refers to food products that are very thick liquids or gels such as peanut butter, jams, jellies, mayonnaise and similarly viscous thickened liquids.

As used herein the term “container” refers to a food compatible container adapted for containing the food product that is viscous. Accordingly, glass or food acceptable/compatible plastics would be among the materials however one skilled in the art would understand what materials to use. A container can have walls and the like sufficiently think to give rigidity to the container and be of a size sufficient to contain a desired amount of the food product. Making a container with the threads would be within the skill in the art in view of the disclosure herein and could be by molding techniques that are well known or the like.

As used herein the container is “cylindrical” and has an outside wall and an inside wall. The cylinder has a bottom of the inside wall defining the open bottom of the cylinder and a top inside wall defining an open top. See the figures for further explanation. In one embodiment, there is a stop or a lip at the bottom of the inside wall.

As used herein the inside wall “threaded surface” extends continuously from about the bottom of the wall to about the top of the wall. The threading is molded into the surface of the inside wall of the cylinder and can be either female threading (indented) or male threading (raised). The threading can be tightly space or openly spaced as desired with the closer together threading requiring more turns or rotations than further spreading of the threads.

As used herein the “rotatable circular base” refers to a flat disk like bottom to the cylinder which is essentially the same diameter as the inside diameter of the cylinder. The base on its side will have threading matching the threading in the cylinder wall. That is the base will have male threading if the cylinder has female and female if the cylinder has male. The side and threading is such that it fits into to the cylinder and is retained by the peripheral edge that is threaded to be adapted to engage the threaded container inside wall surface. The base is adapted and position to rotate by hand use in the threading to move up inside the cylinder from the bottom when full of food product to the top. In one embodiment, there is a grip means on the bottom of the base such that one can grab the bottom of the base and rotate it thus moving the base up the cylinder as well as the food product inside. The gripping surface can be anything that allows a firm grip such as a plurality of ridges as an X or Y type configuration shown in the figures or the like. In one embodiment where there is a lower lip as described above the base can be rotated down to the lip to seal the container.

In one embodiment, there is a top for the container. The top can be snap on or a screw type and can if a screw top matches the inside wall threading or separate threading intended just for the lid. One skilled in the art can make an appropriate lid for a food product jar in view of the present disclosure.

Now referring to the drawings. FIG. 1 a top perspective view of the container of the invention with the optional top shown. In this view, cylindrical container 1 is shown with female (indented) threads 2 on inside wall 5 which show as male threads on the outside of the container 1 but in other embodiments do not need to appear on the exterior. The inside wall define an open top 8 and an open bottom not seen in this view. The threads 2 extend from the bottom 3 of the container 1 to the top 4 of the container 1 in a spiral fashion. Seen within container 1 is rotatable circular base 6 which is attached to the threads 2 by the peripheral edge male threads not show in this view wherein the edge is adapted to engage the threads 2 and rotate by hand from the open bottom to the open top 8. Also seen, is top cover 9 which can be used to close the cylindrical container 1 by matching the male threads 11 on the top cover 9 and screwing them into the female threads 2 on the container 1.

FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the container of the invention. In this view the bottom 3 of the container 1 can clearly be seen and the open bottom 22 can clearly be seen. Also seen in this view is a bottom view of the rotatable circular base 6. The base 6 has ridged hand grips 23 which can be grasped by the fingers and twist the base 6 to push up the contents of container 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the cylinder of the invention with the rotatable circular base 6 removed.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the base 6 of the invention showing the male threads 41 on peripheral edge 42. While this embodiment shows male threads on the base 6 to be mated with the female threads 2 of the container 1 in other embodiments female and male threads are reversed on each part of the device.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a top of the present invention with screw threads 11 seen.

Note that the product to be used within the device such as peanut butter would be placed in the open top and by twisting base 6 clockwise (in this embodiment) the base moves up the sides of the container thus pushing the food up the container towards the open top for easy removal. FIG. 6 is the bottom perspective view of the container 61 with a wing hand grip 62. Also shown is a lower sealing lip 63 in both FIGS. 6 and 7.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make modifications resulting in other embodiments employing principles of the present invention without departing from its spirit or characteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description or drawings. Consequently, while the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials and the like apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope of the invention as claimed by the applicant. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A container for a food product that is viscous comprising: a) a container having a cylindrical inside wall having a bottom of the inside wall defining an open bottom and a top of the inside wall defining an open top, the inside wall having a threaded surface extending continuously from the bottom of the wall to the top of the wall; b) a rotatable circular base having a diameter which fits and is retained inside the container by a peripheral edge of the base adapted to engage the threaded surface, the base adapted and positioned to rotate by hand from the open bottom to the open top.
 2. The container according to claim 1 wherein the container threads are female and the base having a male edge to fit the female threaded surface.
 3. The container according to claim 1 wherein the container threads are male and the base having a female edge to fit the male thread threaded surface.
 4. The container according to claim 1 which further has a top covering the open top.
 5. The container according to claim 4 wherein the top is a screw on top.
 6. The container according to claim 5 wherein the top has threads which mate with the container inside wall threads.
 7. The container according to claim 1 where in the circular base has a bottom side fitted with a gripping surface to aid the rotation of the base by hand.
 8. The container according to claim 7 wherein the gripping surface is an a plurality of gripping ridges.
 9. The container according to claim 1 wherein there is a flexible seal ring on the base being slidably biased against the inside wall of the container.
 10. The container according to claim 1 wherein there is a sealing lip on the lower inside edge of the container. 